Door-bolt and means for operating the same.



PATENTED JAN. 2, 1906.

W. B. MOREWOOD.

DOOR BOLT AND MEANS FOR OPERATING THE SAME.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 31,1904.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DOOR-BOLT AND MEANS FOR OPERATING THE SAME.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 2, 1906.

Application filed OG b 31, I904. fierial No. 230,650.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM B. MoREwooD, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Elizabeth, Union county, New Jersey, (whosepost-office address is No. 13 Park Row, New York city,) have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Door-Bolts and Means forOperating the Same, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to door-bolts, and more particularly to boltsdesigned for doors which serve as exits for auditoriums, theaters, andother places of assemblage.

The purpose of the invention is to provide a bolt of such constructionand arrangement that in case of fire or other emergency a crowd ofpeople pushing against the door to make their exit will involuntarilyoperate the bolt to unfasten the door.

In the drawings forming part of this specification, and in which likenumerals of reference indlcate corresponding parts of the figures,Figure 1 is a sectional plan view of a door and lock embodying thisinvention and taken on the line 1 1 of Fig. 3. Fig. 2 is a sectionalelevation on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a front elevation showingthe inner side of the door and lock. Figwi is a section in detail on theline 4: 4 of Fig. 3.

1 and 2 are the door-jambs, between which is hinged the door 3.

4 and 5' are upper and lower sockets to receive the heads of the bolts18 and 19, the inner ends of which have pivotally connected theretolinks 6 and 7, respectively. The inner ends of the links are in turnpivotally connected to a circular rotatable plate 8, forming acrank-plate, rigidly fixed on the end of the rotatable shaft 9 andlocated over the faceplate 17 which is countersunk into the door. Whenthe plate 8 is rotated in one direction, the bolts are thrust outward toengage their sockets, and when the plate 8 is rotated in the oppositedirection the bolts are retracted.

9 is a transverse rotatable rod fixed to the plate 8, preferablysupported in bearings 10 and 11, secured to the door.

12 and 13 are two swinging arms fixed on the rod 9 and extending upwardand outward therefrom. These arms support a thrustpiece which is soarranged as to beheld away from the door when the bolts are in lookingposition, as shown in the drawings. When the thrust-piece is pushedinward, the arms 12 and 13 are swung inward and rod 9 is rotated so thatthe bolts are retracted and the door may be thrust open. In thepreferred arrangement the thrustpiece constitutes a signplate whichconsists of a metal frame 16, having trunnions supported in bearings 14and 15 on the outer ends of the arms 12 and 13. This metal frame maybear the word Push, so as to indicate the manner of unlocking the door.The trunnions on the frame are preferably arranged above thehorizontal'axis of the frame, as shown. This insures the uprightposition of the frame, so that the sign which it bears may be easilyread.

The weight of the arms 12 and 13, together with the thrust-piece, ispreferably such that when the door is swung to from the outside thebolts will automatically move to locking position, so as to fasten thedoor. This is the arrangement shown in the drawings.

It will be seen that by this invention exitdoors may be securely lockedand yet in case of fire or other sudden emergency a crowd of peoplepushing against the door from within will thereby operate the bolt andpress open the door. Thus the presence of attendants to open the door incase of emergency is not necessary, and the certainty of throwing openexit-doors without delay in case of emergency is secured.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a door-lock, the combination of ashaft parallel to and extendingacross the door; said shaft rotatably mounted in bearings which arefixed to the door; a push-plate to rotate the shaft extending across thedoor and carried by outwardly and upwardly extending arms fixed to saidshaft; a circular plate rigidly fixed to the end of the shaft; one ormore links pivotally connected to said circular plate outside the axisof the shaft; a bolt pivotally connected with each of said links; andguides on said door for said bolts.

2. In a door-lock, the combination of a shaft parallel to and extendingacross the door; said shaft rotatably mounted in bearings which arefixed to the door; a push-plate to rotate the shaft extending across thedoor and carried by outwardly and upwardly extending arms fixed to saidshaft; a'circular plate rigidly fixed to the end of the shaft and havingits rim extending within the face of the door to this specification inthe presence of two subinto a countersurik lopening lrirovidedthgrescribing Witnesses. A

or; one or more in {S pivota y connecte to said circular plate outsidethe axis of the shaft; MOREWOO r 5 a bolt pivotally connected With eachof said Witnesses:

links; and guides on said door for said bolts. NICHOLAS M. GOODLETT, Jr.,

In testimony whereof I have signed my name FRANK TRENHOLM.

